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New Brunswick cities rank among Canada’s best places to buy real estate

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A recent report ranked New Brunswick’s largest cities among the top 20 places to buy property in Canada.

Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton took first, fourth and 11th place, respectively, in the 2026 edition of MoneySense’s Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada report, in partnership with prop-tech company Zoocasa.

The report ranked cities across Canada using data from the Canadian Real Estate Association, evaluating 44 real estate markets from coast to coast and identifying top neighbourhoods in 13 of the country’s most in-demand markets.

According to the report, overall rankings and scores were determined using benchmark home prices, recent price changes and neighbourhood economic data.

The report also considered market stability, supply, interest rates, appreciation benchmarks and construction growth.

Fredericton, which received a rating of 3.76 out of five stars, with an average 2025 home price of $344,487 and five-year growth of 74 per cent, took first place for the second year in a row.

Saint John was rated 3.60 stars, with an average 2025 home price of $336,675 and five-year growth of 76 per cent, while Moncton was rated 3.04 stars, with an average 2025 home price of $364,183 and a five-year growth rate of 93 per cent.

Natasha Macmillan, editor-in-chief of MoneySense, said in a press release that New Brunswick dominates its ranking despite its growth.

“Fredericton is the best place to buy real estate in Canada,” she added. “Despite impressive growth, homes in this city are priced well below the national average and continue to provide long-term value.”

The national benchmark for housing prices is $683,567.

The report also said Fredericton took the top spot due to its resilient and reliable market, steady appreciation benchmark, appeal to remote workers due to its “strong” tech presence, and lifestyle offerings, including more than 120 kilometres of paved walking and biking trails.

The cities that took second and third place were St. John’s and Edmonton, respectively.

North End Neighbourhood Plan

Saint John council gives final approval to North End plan

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Saint John council concluded its final meeting by approving the city’s North End plan.

On Tuesday, council gave third reading to a bylaw amending the municipal plan to allow development.

Community planning and housing director Pankaj Nalavde said during a presentation to council on Monday that the project could add between 6,000 and 10,000 housing units over the next 20 to 25 years.

The plan “builds upon the smart growth principles the smart growth principles of municipal plan SJ, which identified the North End as a residential intensification area capable of offering true diversity of housing choice to it’s residents,” explained Nalavde.

According to a staff report, the plan aims to establish direction for growth and development through “gentle” densification, strategic infill, redevelopment and revitalization of historic corridors, and the creation of new planned neighbourhoods.

The project began in November 2024, and the city has worked with two major North End community groups to draft a boundary map.

The staff report adds that, based on 2021 census data, areas identified for development in the North End include some of the city’s most impoverished neighbourhoods, with approximately 25 per cent of households earning less than $30,000 a year.

The planning area is divided into six character areas: Douglas Avenue, Old North End, Lansdowne and Main Street, Mount Pleasant, Somerset, and the Pokioke Green Field.

RELATED: Saint John seeks feedback for north end plan

Fotenn Planning + Design consultant Matt McElligot told council the plan’s main goal is to expand housing choice, improve long-term affordability and strengthen the sustainability of the North End.

McElligot said development within the designated areas will not necessarily be the same throughout, but they will share “identifiable characteristics” in built form, land use and other community features.

The city has held three community engagement events to gather public input on the project.

Through that input, the city identified additional priorities, including prioritizing housing growth opportunities and emphasizing beautification by revitalizing North End streets and buildings while maintaining the area’s historic character.

To develop the project, the city received funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund and the Green Municipal Fund.

A public hearing followed staff’s presentation. Several councillors raised concerns about brownfield sites in prime North End locations, noting the cost of remediation can be substantial and make the properties difficult to develop.

Staff suggested council consider developing a citywide brownfield policy, but Coun. Greg Norton said immediate action is necessary, warning that a comprehensive policy could leave sites undeveloped for a decade or more.

“I’m happy to frame it up with a city wide policy, but it really start like ‘hey look, we’ve got one, let’s go after that one, we’ve got one crossing, let’s go after that crossing and get it done,” he said.

Despite there being no clear resolution on brownfields, council unanimously gave third reading to the bylaw during a special meeting Tuesday.

Following council’s approval, the project will now move into the master planning phase.

Rainy River DSSAB Social Housing May 2019 (3)

Rent freeze requested at rent-controlled housing

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The provincial NDP is looking for help to those who live in rent-controlled homes in Ontario.

Housing critic Jessica Bell proposes a two-year freeze on rent increases.

She says it would help people get through the current economic conditions and the high cost of living.

“Many Ontarians are struggling,” says Bell.

“We have record-high unemployment. We have very high youth unemployment. We have a lot of people looking for a job at a time when bills, groceries, mortgage costs, and rent have never been more expensive.”

Bell says a survey of renters found many forego buying groceries, meals, even medications, to save up for their rent.

Others have exhausted savings and worry about retirement.

Bell adds that the average rent in Ontario has increased more than 50% in the past decade.

“We don’t expect miracles from the Conservative government,” says Bell.

“We understand we have the Trump tariff war, we have the crisis in the Middle East, but I think every Ontarian out there expects the Ontario government to use every single legal tool or regulatory tool that they have got to make life more affordable for people.”

The Ford government has only once stalled rent increases since they came to power.

That happened during the COVID pandemic in 2021.

In other years, landlords of rent-controlled housing have been given the green light to increases that are near or at the allowable limit.

Bell says a two-year freeze would provide immediate stability and savings for up to 1.5 million renters.

“For someone paying $2,000 a month, it’ll save them about $600 a year and $1,200 over the two years. That’s not chump change,” says Bell.

The province is to announce in June how much landlords can increase the rent on all rent-controlled homes across Ontario.

MPPs are expected to vote on Bell’s request on Thursday.

a sign on the side of a building that says we'll look after you

Salisbury to host new supportive housing units

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Supportive housing units for people experiencing chronic homelessness and living with mental health issues are coming to the greater Moncton area.

A new project will bring a dozen of the units to a location on Homestead Road in Salisbury.

They’ll offer around-the-clock support to residents.

It’s part of a partnership between the New Brunswick Housing Corporation and Alternative Residences Alternatives Inc. (ARA), a non-profit providing housing and support services for people living with mental illness and experiencing homelessness.

“This is about helping people who are struggling find a better situation, a place where they can focus on reclaiming their lives,” ARA executive director Alan Pendergast said in a statement.

David Hickey, the minister responsible for the housing corporation and the chair of the government’s ministerial task force on homelessness, said the province will invest $250,000 to help ARA acquire the property and build the units.

“We know this type of housing is needed in the greater Moncton area,” Hickey said in a statement.

“We are happy to support a trusted community partner in this mission.”

NBHC secured $7.4 million in emergency funding last September for supportive housing projects.

The goal has been to provide a bridge for people leaving chronic homelessness and helping them find permanent housing.

The funding has made similar projects possible, including in Fredericton’s Forest Hill Road neighbourhood and at the former Smurfit Stone mill site in Bathurst.

The Department of Social Development will work with project proponents to make sure support services are available on-site to all residents.

“Supportive housing is meant to ensure these residents can work on becoming independent while enjoying privacy and dignity in a safe, secure setting,” Social Development Minister Cindy Miles said.

Several other housing developments are being finalized, including at least one more in the greater Moncton area.

Doug Ford Mar 25 2026

Ontario to remove sales tax on new home purchases

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The provincial government is giving homebuyers a break.

A tax break afforded to first-time buyers is being extended to all buyers of new homes beginning on April 1st.

Premier Doug Ford says it will help boost sales and bring the reality of home ownership closer to many people.

“This rebate will deliver nearly $2.2 billion in tax relief, kick start the construction of 8,000 additional homes, support up to 21,000 jobs, boost Ontario’s GDP by up to $2.7 billion and bring the dream of home ownership in reach for thousands of Ontario families,” says Ford.

According to the province, eligible buyers of new homes valued between $1 million and $1.5 million will receive a rebate of $130,000.

The rebate decreases on homes greater than $1.5 million.

Last October, the province announced plans to remove the provincial sales tax for first-time buyers on homes costing $1 million or lower.

The Premier says discussions with the federal government enabled the province to expand the program and offer the full tax rebate.

“In the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty, our government is working closely with the federal government to do everything we can to lower costs for families, keep workers on the job and build the most competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy in the G7,” says Ford.

The rebate will only be a temporary measure, lasting for one year.

The Ford government intends to reveal further details following the release of Thursday’s budget.

legislature

Housing Minister to get order-making power for HRM under new bill

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The province is hoping to cut more red tape in the housing sector with a new bill tabled at the legislature.

The bill, introduced Friday, has a particular focus on housing in Halifax, and will grant the Housing Minister “new authority to ensure housing project aren’t delayed,” according to a news release.

“These changes will help us act faster and reduce the barriers that slow down housing projects so that more Nova Scotians will have access to the homes they need,” wrote Housing Minister John White in a news release.

The changes aim to extend the Executive Panel on Housing in Halifa by two years.

Minister White would also get order-making power on housing in the HRM and with Halifax Water. The province says this will help them better coordinate resources so housing projects get moving “without delays and stay affordable over the long term.”

The bill also introduces several changes related to municipal chief administrative officers, or CAOs.

A municipal council would be able to create an oversight committee to monitor the performance of the chief administrative officer.

And it gives them other powers to manage the CAO as well, including to:

  • give councils explicit discretion to exclude or limit participation of their CAO in discussions and training sessions related to their performance
  • clarify councils’ ability to manage CAO participation on external boards and committees, aligning CAO priorities with council expectations
  • clarify councils’ ability to decide on long-term delegation of their CAO’s responsibilities during extended absences

On top of that, new municipal councillors would have to undergo mandatory training under the new bill to make sure they understand their responsibilities, the release says.

Lastly, the Minister of Municipal Affairs would gain the temporary ability to regulate HRM’s urban service area boundary, which the government says will let the minister decide where infrastructure has to be built out to “support sustainable growth.”

Boars Head Road site_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

Thunder Bay opens new grant intake for housing developers

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A new grant intake from Thunder Bay is supporting multi-unit and core area housing development.

Open for applications are the Multi-Unit Residential Grant, which supports projects creating two or more self-contained residential units, and the Construction Assistance Grant, designed to stimulate new residential development in strategic core areas.

The two programs are delivered by the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Project Manager Summer Stevenson says these grants are part of a larger initiative to build 1,755 new homes by February 28, 2027.

“Across all our grant programs, which these two are a component, we’ve committed over $11.3 million in funding to support the construction of 602 new units (in Thunder Bay)”, Stevenson said. “Many of these are affordable units as well, which is great to see.”

If Thunder Bay meets the growth target of 1,755 new homes in time, the city will be eligible for another grant intake through the Housing Accelerator Fund.

“So this intake, we’re looking for projects that are shovel ready and will be able to meet that February deadline,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said proposals that incorporate elements of energy efficiency, accessibility and affordability will be prioritized during the evaluation process.

99King Funding Announcement_Saint John_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

$55M announced for 99 King Street project in uptown Saint John

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More than $55 million in government funding has been announced for a 152‑unit housing project in uptown Saint John.

The project at 99 King Street includes 32 affordable units that will be reserved for seniors and people with disabilities, according to the New Brunswick Housing Corporation.

The building will feature two levels of underground parking, a floor of commercial and retail space, and multiple levels of rental housing.

Federal officials say the development is supported through more than $46 million in low‑interest loans from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Apartment Construction Loan Program.

The province is contributing about $2.2 million through its Affordable Rental Housing Program, while the City of Saint John is funding $310,000.

Wayne Long, Secretary of State for Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions and MP for Saint John–Kennebecasis, said the federal funding will help create secure homes for residents who want to live, work and raise families in the city.

“The impact this investment will have on lives right here in Saint John cannot be underestimated,” he said.

Long said the loan program is designed to encourage developers to build rental housing that has been missing in many communities.

He described the project as part of a broader national effort to increase housing supply and support middle‑class renters.

Housing Minister David Hickey said the province’s contribution will guarantee 32 affordable units within the building.

“We need to make sure that we are protecting the supply of affordable housing and building new,” he said.

Hickey noted nearly 13,000 people are on the province’s affordable housing waitlist.

Hickey said affordability for the units will be calculated at 30 per cent of a tenant’s net income, with the province covering the remainder through long‑term rent supplements.

He added that the project supports the province’s targets for new housing starts and affordable unit development.

Saint John Mayor Donna Noade Reardon said the development represents a major step for the uptown area, calling it a boost for housing diversity and economic activity.

“This development will provide secure homes for individuals and families while also stimulating our local economy,” she said.

Reardon said the location beside King Square has long been a prominent address in the city and will help strengthen density and vibrancy in the urban core.

She credited municipal staff, Envision Saint John and the developer for advancing the project.

Developer Percy Wilbur said construction has moved more quickly since the underground work was completed.

“It’s nice to be out of the ground. That’s always slow and tedious,” he said. “Once you get all the guts of the building in place, it goes up faster and it’s more visible.”

Wilbur said the project has been underway since 2021 and required redesigns after an office tenant withdrew early in the process.

He said the budget remains tight due to labour and material costs.

“Any little help you can get along the way is greatly appreciated and pretty much needed,” he said. “I don’t see anyone out there doing any of this multi‑rez without some sort of assistance or programs.”

He said he expects tenants to begin moving in by this time next year, with full construction completion targeted for fall 2026.

Officials state that the project enhances the long-term housing supply in the region and supports national initiatives to boost rental construction through the Apartment Construction Loan Program.

This program aims to facilitate the construction of over 131,000 rental homes across Canada by the year 2031-32.

Houses under construction are shown in the photo.

Provincial Liberals suggest sales tax cut to spur housing

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Ontario Liberals say the province’s housing crisis has now become a catastrophe.

They point to 23 percent fewer homes being built than last year.

Housing Critic Adil Shamji says cutting the provincial sales tax on the purchase of homes can reverse the trend.

“This would function just like the federal proposal, but remove the provincial component of HST for all home buyers of new residences, of new primary residences,” says Shamji.

“No HST would be paid on the purchase of new primary residences that are up to a million dollars. And there would be a reduction of the HST for those residences between one and one and a half million dollars.”

Shamji says the removal of the provincial tax could save home buyers up to $80,000 on a home worth a million dollars.

He says it could also result in the immediate increase of 50,000 new housing starts over the next year.

“It will help first-time home buyers get into homes. And it will release existing housing stock by helping seniors downsize,” says Shamji.

“It will deliver the jolt to construction jobs that Ontario needs and that Doug Ford has completely and utterly failed to deliver.”

The federal government has proposed removing the HST on the purchase of new homes for first-time homebuyers.

It has been suggested that homebuyers would save up to $50,000 on their purchase.

Shamji says while there is no single solution to resolving the housing situation, removing the provincial tax is one of the sensible solutions that should be considered.

Mark Carney Housing

Ottawa announces $13B for new housing agency

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A new federal agency focused on building more affordable housing across the country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced an initial $13 billion for Build Canada Homes.

“It will help fight homelessness by building transitional and supportive housing in close partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities,” Carney said during Sunday’s announcement.

“It will expand deeply affordable and community housing to low-income households. Build Canada Homes will partner with private-sector developers to build affordable homes for the Canadian middle class.”

The agency will deploy modern methods of construction as it catalyzes the creation of an entirely new Canadian housing industry, said Carney.

According to the federal officials, the initiative will also leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives and facilitate large portfolio projects.

Carney also announced the first four investments and initiatives under Build Canada Homes:

  • Prioritize six sites to build 4,000 factory-built homes on federal land, focused on affordable mixed-income communities. The first sites will be in Dartmouth, Longueuil, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton.
  • Launch a $1.5-billion Canada Rental Protection Fund to help the community housing sector acquire at-risk rental apartment buildings.
  • Deploy $1 billion to build transitional and supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • Partner with the Nunavut Housing Corporation to build over 700 public, affordable and supportive housing units.

Carney said the goal of Build Canada Homes is to help double the pace of housing construction over the next decade.

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